Buehrle and Sale weren't/aren't coming off Tommy John surgery. That's the reason for it; I'll let you form your own opinion as to whether it's a "real good" one.

Yeah, I know, I meant if they were in the same situation as Strasburg. Though I think the comparison to Sale and Medlen is a fair one (though as you say, of course inexact because of Strasburg's injury history); while Sale is at 163 IP, Medlen is at just 104 IP. I think the Nats had other options here to both limit the youngster's innings as well as have him pitch in the postseason.